ABRAMIS BRAMA. 215 



named Abramia gehini. It closely resembles the Austrian variety, Abramis 

 vetula, in size, elongation of body, and development of fins. The scales 

 are said to be shorter than in the Common Bream. The pharyngeal teeth 

 are more strikingly re-curved. In colour the upper part of the body is grey 

 slaty-blue, with the rest of the body silver-white, with scales finely spotted 

 with black. Mr. Gehin says it is a very good fish. 



Abramis vimba ( 



D. 11, A. 2123, V. 1011. Scales : lat. line 5560, transverse 10J/9. 



This species, characteristic of Eastern Europe, is easily recognised by the 

 keeled back of the tail behind the dorsal fin, and by the projecting snout 

 (Fig. 119). The greatest height of the body in front of the dorsal tin is about 



Fig. 119. ABRAMIS VIMBA 



one-quarter of the length of the fish, but the thickness is two-fifths of the 

 height. The head is one-fifth of the length of the fish. 



The eye is one and a half times its own diameter from the extremity of 

 the snout, and the same distance from the other eye. It is moderately large, 

 and about one-fifth of the length of the head. The nasal apertures are nearer 

 to the eyes than to the extremity of the snout. The mouth is oblique, and its 

 angle reaches back below the anterior limit of the orbit for the eye. The upper 

 lip is fleshy, and thickens with age ; it is arched, and projects beyond the 

 mouth. The elongated profile of the head and snout is the most striking 

 character of the species. From the back of the head the contour ascends in 

 an arch to the dorsal fin, where it begins to sink towards the tail. Where 

 narrowest the tail is two-fifths of the greatest height. The abdominal con- 

 tour is less convex than the dorsal profile. The dorsal fin, which begins half 



